Boat lift



June 29, 1965 J. B. POE 3,191,389

BOAT LIFT Filed Nov. 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG] INVENTOR.

JOE B. POE

A TTORNE Y5.

' June 29, 1965 J. B. POE 3,191,389

BOAT LIFT Filed Nov. 27. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

FIG.5 BY 2 15% A TTORNE Y8.

United States Patent 3,191,389 BOAT LIFT Joe Burns Poe, 1507 Dixon,Longview, Tex. Filed Nov. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 155,148 11 Claims. (Cl.6148) This invention relates to boat lifting and storing apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a sheltered boat lift which maybe installed under a waterside cottage or the like or beneath the roofof a boathouse so that boats may be elevated above the water formaintenance purposes or for winter storage while fully protected fromthe elements.

Another important object is to provide a simplified boat lift which isstrong and durable and which is operated by compact winch and cablemeans installed overhead and thereby permitting the use of the lift inshelters having a minimum amount of head clearance.

Another object is to provide a boat lift which is adjustable verticallyupon its mounting to a considerable degree and embodying an absoluteminimum amount of structure rendering the lift space-saving andenhancing its usefulness where space is at a minimum.

Another object is to provide a device of the mentioned character whichis characterized by simplicity of construction and design, efficiency ofoperation and economy of manufacture.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of ,the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral figures and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of boat lifting and storing apparatusaccording to the invention and showing the same installed in aboathouse;

FIGURE 2 is a somewhat enlarged side elevation of the apparatus, partlyin section, and with parts omitted;

. FIGURE 2a is a fragmentary side elevation similar to FIGURE 2 andshowing the boat cradle in a lowermost adjusted position upon a mountingbracket;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the apparatus partly in section and withparts omitted;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of the same, partly broken away;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the cradleshowing adjustable guide and centering means for the boat hull;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of a modified form of theapparatus utilized for lifting heavy boats, and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentaryside elevation similar to FIGURE 2aillustrating a modified adjustable mounting bracket for supporting thepivoted end of the boat cradle.

With continued reference to the drawings in detail,

FIGURE 1 illustrates a fragmentary portion of a boathouse or the likeconstituting the environment for the present invention.

is available above the water.

Continuing to refer to the drawings, the apparatus of the inventioncomprises a boat cradle 15 including a pair of spaced parallel sideframes or trusses 16 which are elongated and generally horizontal duringuse. The trusses 16 may be identical in construction and formed fromsturdy metal tubing or the like and they preferably include main upperlongitudinal bars 17 and suitable depending or underslung bracing 18rigidly secured thereto by welding or the like to render the cradle 15very rigid yet relatively lightweight.

The cradle 15 further comprises a bed portion to engage beneath the boathull and comprising a pair of spaced transverse shallow V-shaped bars 19arranged intermediate the ends of the trusses 16 and having theiropposite ends rigidly secured to the upper bars 17 by welding or byother suitable means. A pair of spaced parallel longitudinal bed membersor bars 20 extends between the transverse bars 19 at right anglesthereto with the opposite ends of the bars 20 rigidly secured by weldingor the like to the bars 19. The cradle 15 thus constitutes a unitarylightweight and rigid structure for engagement beneath the boat hull toelevate the same from the water, as will be fully described.

Adjustable upstanding guide or centering pins 21 are provided upon theV-shaped crossbars 19 and carried by flat base plate 22 adjustablysecured to the bars 19 by bolt means 23. Each bar 19 has severalopenings 24 formed therethrough near its opposite end portions toreceive the bolt means 23 in the selected adjusted positions of the pins21, whereby boat hulls of varying shape and size may be accommodatedupon the cradle 15. The pins 21 may be padded with rubber or the like ifpreferred.

A pair of mounting brackets 25 are suitably rigidly secured to the wall12 of the boathouse or shelter for pivotally supporting one end of thecradle 15 as shown in the drawings. Each bracket 25 is verticallyelongated and includes several vertically spaced pairs of apertured ears26 for the selective reception between them of forward aperturedportions 27 of the longitudinal bars 17. 'The forward ends 27 of thebars 17 are pivoted between the selective pairs of cars 26 by suitablepivot pins 28 which engage through the apertures of the ears and bars asbest shown in FIGURE 3. Accordingly, the forward end of the boat cradle15 is firmly pivotally secured to the brackets 25 at the desired orselected elevation relative to the water level within the shelter. Theopposite end of the cradle 15 is freely disposed for vertical swingingmovement upwardly or downwardly about the pivoted forward end of thecradle.

Overhead lift and lowering means for the cradle 15 are provided withinthe shelter, including a preferably electric winch 29 having a built-inspeed reducer and a reversing switch; A double flanged winding drum 30is fixedly secured to the horizontal rotary drive shaft of the winch 29and the axis of the drum and winch shaft is parallel to the cradle 15and at an elevation substantially above the cradle and spaced laterallytherefrom, as shown in the drawings. The winch 29 is suitably rigidlymounted upon a platform 31 or the like rigidly connected with theoverhead or ceiling beam 10 above the cradle.

Sheaves 32 and 33 are likewise secured dependingly to the overhead beam10 in substantial lateral alignment with the winding drum 30 anddirectly above the rear free ends of the cradle bars 17. A pair ofcables 34 and 35 connected with the winding drum 30 are trained over thesheaves 32 and 33 and have upper horizontal portions which lie close tothe overhead beam 10. From the sheaves 32 and 33 the cables 34 and 35extend downwardly for attachment to suitable lifting eyes 36 which arerigidly secured to the rear ends of the longitudinal bars 17. With thedescribed arrangement, the winch 29 may be energized to wind up thecables on the drum 30 and elevate the rear end of the cradle and thewinch may be reversed by suitable conventional switch means to allowlowering of the cradle 15 as indicated by the broken line showing of thecradle and, cables in FIGURE 2. By the operation of the winch, the boatcradle may be elevated to a substantially horizontal position completelyabove the level of the water, FIGURE 2, or lowered to an inclinedposition substantially completely below the water level within theoverhead shelter.

In use, the motorboat B may be driven directly into the shelter orboathouse and above the cradle 15 while the same is lowered to or nearthe broken line position shown in FIGURE 2. The winch is then set intooperation to elevate the cradle 15 for lifting the boat partially orentirely out of the water for storage or main tenance purposes. Thebottom of the boat hull rests directly upon the bed which includes thebars 19 and 20 and the hull is centered and guided by the pins 21, aspreviously explained. The apparatus may be employed eifectively inshelters above the water where head clearance is at a minimum because ofthe fact that the winch and cable elevating and lowering means aremounted overhead in a very compact manner, and substantially no groundlevel or water level structure for the cradle 15 is needed except forthe two wall-mounted brackets which pivotally support the forward end ofthe cradle.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a slight modification of the invention adapted tohandle heavier boats than could be accommodated readily by the apparatusaccording to the first form of the invention. In FIGURE 6, the identicalcradle 15 and mounting brackets 25 are employed along with the identicalwinch 29 and associated elements. However, in FIGURE 6, a lower pair ofdifferential pulleys 3'7 and 38 are employed below and in conjunctionwith the guide sheaves 32 and 33 and the pulleys 37 and 38 are connectedwith the lifting eyes 36 of the cradle 15 by means of suitable rigidlinks 39, as indicated. Lifting cables 34' and 35' engage the sheaves 32and 33 and the pulleys 37 and38 in the manner shown and have their endssecured at 40 to the overhead mounting brackets of the sheaves 32 and33. The cables 34 and 35 are connected with the winch winding drum 30 inthe identical manner shown and described in the first form of theinvention. All other parts of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6 areidentical in their construction and operation with the correspondingparts shown and described in connection with FIGURES 1 through 5 Theoperation of the invention as shown in FIGURE 6 is substantiallyidentical to the operation of the prior form of the invention, and theonly difierence is the fact that the pulleys 3'7 and .38 in the cablesystem provide a well-known differential lift arrangement wherein thelifting force of the winch 23 is multiplied to effect the raising andlowering of relatively heavy boats.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a further slight modification of the inventionwherein readily adjustable mounting bracket means for the forwardpivoted end of the boat cradle 15 are provided so that such end may beraised and lowered relative to the water and locked in the selected adjusted position without the necessity of detaching the cradle from itsmounting brackets. This means comprises in FIGURE 7 fixed brackets 41rigidly secured to the wall 12 adjacent the forward ends of the bars 17.Sector plates 42 are pivoted at 43 to the bracket 41 for turningmovement in vertical planes and the sector plates have radial arms 44pivoted at 45 to'the forward ends 'of the bars 17. A plurality ofcircumferentially spaced adjustment openings 46 are formed through eachsector plate 42 in concentric relation to the pivot 43 and a suitablelocking pin or bolt 47 is selectively engageable through an opening 46of the sector plate and a registering opening formed through the bracket41, to lock the tion. By this means, the forward end of the cradle 15may be raised or lowered with respect to the water level and securelylocked in the selected vertically adjusted position as indicated clearlyin FIGURE 7. In all adjusted positions, the cradle 15 has its forwardend freely pivoted upon the arms 44 and the overall operation of thedevice during use is the same as previously described in the foregoingembodiments. A further advantage of the FIGURE 7 construction is thatthe lowering of the forward end of the boat cradle is renderedsemi-automatic. That is to say, the mere pulling of the locking pins 47to disengage them from the sector plates 42 allows the forward end ofthe cradle to drop by gravity to the lowermost position where the arms44 depend vertically. The construction in FIGURE 7 may be employedequally well with the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 or with theembodiment shown in FIGURE 6.

In connection with all described embodiments of the invention, it willbe understood that multiple boat lifting and storage units according tothe invention may readily be installed side-by-side within the boathouseand operated independently by separate winch and cable units of the typeshown or by a single suitably powerful winch and multiple cable system,if preferred. .Such a winch system common to several boat cradles may beprovided with suitable clutch or control means and multiple wind ingdrums necessary to effect the independent control and operation of theindividual boat cradles. 'Also, the several branch cables operated by asingle winch unit may be detachably connected to the rear ends ofadjacent boat cradles to facilitate selective raising and lowering ofindividual cradles upon attachment of the proper branch cables thereto.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shownand described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof arepossible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a boat handling apparatus with a boat shelterhaving a substantially upright wall protruding above the surface of abody of water and a stationary roof fixed to said wall and extendingover the water, said apparatus comprising an elongated boat supportingcradle within said shelter and capable of extending longitudinally undera boat to seat the'latter longitudinally thereon, bracket means fixed tosaid upright wall and including vertically shiftable pivot meanssupporting one end of the cradle at one of a number of differentelevations relative to 'the surface of the water so that said one end ofthe cradle may be pivotally supported slightly above the water, and anoverhead lift and lowering means within the shelter secured to said roofand connected to the cradle remote from said pivot means to raise andlower the other end of the cradle above and below the water, said liftand lowering means controlling the movement of said cradle from a boatreceiving position in which the cradle depends at an angle from saidpivotally supported one end with the other end below the water to a boatelevating position in which said other end is lifted above the water.

2. The combination set forth in claim I, wherein said lift and loweringmeans comprises a winch and cable connected to said cradle.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said winch iselectrically operated and reversible.

4. The combination according to claim I, wherein said bracket meanscomprises a vertically elongated bracket having vertically spacedjournal elements, and said pivot means includes a displaceable pivotelement selectively inset-table in said journal elements.

5. The combination according to claim I, wherein said bracket meansincludes a fixed element secured to said upright wall, a sector platepivoted to the fixed element and having an extension arm pivoted to saidone end of the cradle at a point displaced from the pivot axis of thesector plate, a plurality of circumferentially spaced openingsconcentric to the pivot of the sector plate, said fixed element havingan aperture spaced from the pivot of the sector plate, and a locking pinselectively engageable through the aperture of the fixed element and oneof said openings of the sector plate.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said cradle comprisesspaced longitudinal side trusses and a connecting bed portion to engagebeneath a boat in the water, said bracket means comprises a pair oflaterally spaced fixed mounting brackets adjacent corresponding ends ofsaid trusses and pivotally supporting the same, and said lift andlowering means comprises suspension cables carrying the opposite ends ofsaid trusses and extending above the same, overhead guide sheavesengaging said cables and supporting them, and winch means common to saidcables and mounted overhead and spaced laterally of said guide sheavesand including a winding drum secured to said cables to wind up and payout the same.

7. The invention according to claim 6, and wherein said mountingbrackets are vertically elongated and include vertically spaced pairs ofapertured ears for selective pivotal mounting of the first-named ends ofsaid trusses at the desired elevation relative to the surface of thewater.

8. The invention according to claim 6, and differential pulleysconnected with said cables intermediate said guide sheaves and saidopposite ends of the trusses for multiplying the lifting force of saidwinch means upon said cradle.

9. The invention according to claim 6, and laterally adjustableupstanding boat centering and guide elements carried by the bed portionof said cradle to stabilize boats resting thereon.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said cradle bed portioncomprises a pair of longitudinally spaced, V-shaped transverse barssecured to said side trusses, each of said transverse bars havinglaterally spaced openings, said centering and guiding elements eachcomprising an upstanding rod fixed to a plate having a bolt which may beselectively engaged in one of said openings,

11. A boat supporting cradle to be used in water near the surface forelevating and lowering a boat respectively above and into the water,comprising a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal side trusses, a pairof longitudinally spaced V-shaped members secured to said trusses andforming part of a bed to engage the bottom of a boat, laterallyadjustable boat centering and guide elements carried by said V-shapedmembers, the forward end of said pair of trusses being provided with avertically adjustable pivot support means, and the rear end of said pairof trusses being provided with eyes for attachment of a lift andlowering cable, said pivot support means comprising a circular sectorplate having a radial extension arm pivoted to said forward end of thepair of trusses, a support armv pivotally secured at one end to thesector plate near its center and being adapted to be secured at itsother end to a fixed support, a plurality of circumferentially spacedopenings in said sector plate near its periphery, said support armhaving an opening spaced from the pivot of the sector plate, and aremovable locking pin selectively engageable through the opening of thesupport arm and any one of the circumferential openings in the sectorplate.

2/61 Canada.

OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, August 1956, page 161, publication.

EARL J. WITMER, Primary Examiner.

JACOB I NACKENOFF, WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE,

Examiners.

1. THE COMBINATION OF A BOAT HANDLING APPARATUS WITH A BOAT SHELTERHAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT WALL PROTRUDING ABOVE THE SURFACE OF ABODY OF WATER AND A STATIONARY ROOF FIXED TO SAID WALL AND EXTENDINGOVER THE WATER, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BOAT SUPPORTINGCRADLE WITHIN SAID SHELTER AND CAPABLE OF EXTEND ING LONGITUDINALLYUNDER A BOAT TO SEAT THE LATTER LONGITUDINALLY THEREON, BRACKET MEANSFIXED TO SAID UPRIGHT WALL AND INCLUDING VERTICALLY SHIFTABLE PIVOTMEANS SUPPORTING ONE END OF THE CRADLE AT ONE OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENTELEVATIONS RELATIVE TO THE SURFACE OF THE WATER SO THAT SAID ONE END OFTHE CRADLE MAY BE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE WATER, AND ANOVERHEAD LIFT AND LOWERING MEANS WITHIN THE SHELTER SECURED TO SAID ROOFAND CONNECTED TO THE CRADLE REMOTE FROM SAID PIVOT MEANS TO RAISE ANDLOWER THE OTHER END OF THE CRADLE ABOVE AND BELOW THE WATER, SAID LIFTAND LOWERING MEANS CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CRADLE FROM A BOATRECEIVING POSITION IN WHICH THE CRADLE DEPENDS AT AN ANGLE FROM SAIDPIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ONE END WITH THE OTHER END BELOW THE WATER TO A BOATELEVATING POSITION IN WHICH SAID OTHER END IS LIFTED ABOVE THE WATER.